• 대한한의학방제학회지
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• 제13권2호
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• pp.111-123
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• 2005

The purpose of this study was to investigate the anticancer effects of Caesalpiniae Lignum (Somok) on HepG2 cells, a human liver cancer cell line. To study the cytotoxic effect of Caesalpiniae Lignum methanol extract (CL-MeOH) on HepG2 cells, the cells were treated with various concentrations of CL-MeOH and then cell viability was determined by XTT reduction method and trypan blue exclusion assay. CL-MeOH reduced proliferation of HepG2 cells in a dose-dependent manner. To confirm the induction of apoptosis, HepG2 cells were treated with various concentrations of CL-MeOH. The activation of caspase 3 and the cleavage of poly ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP), a substrate for caspase-3 and a typical sign of apoptosis, was examined by western blot analysis. CL-MeOH decreased procaspase 3 level in a dose-dependent manner and induced the clevage of PARP at concentration> $200{\mu}/ml$. Mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase signaling cascades are multi-functional signaling networks that influence cell growth, differentiation, apoptosis, and cellular responses to stress. CL-MeOH-induced MAPK activation was examined by Western blot for phosphorylated ERK, p38 and JNK. CL-MeOH significantly increased p38 phosphorylation and JNK phosphorylation in a dose-dependent manner. Inhibition of p38 function using the selective inhibitor SB20358O results in inhibition of apoptosis by CL-MeOH. These results suggest that CL-MeOH-induced apoptosis is MAP kinase-dependent apoptoric pathway. These results suggest that CL-MeOH is potentially useful as a chemotherapeutic agent in human liver cancer.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• 제19권5호
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• pp.65-76
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• 2007

Purpose: It is generally accepted that smooth muscle contraction is triggered by intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ ($[Ca^{2+}]_i$) released from intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ stores such as sarcoplasmic teticulum (SR) and from the extracellular space. The increased $[Ca^{2+}]^i$ can phosphorylate the 20,000 dalton myosin light chain $(MLC_{20})$ by activating MLC kinase (MLCK), and this initiates smooth muscle contraction. In addition to the $[Ca^{2+}]_i$MACK-tension pathway, a number of intracellular signal molecules, including mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), protein kinase C (PKC) and others, play important roles in the regulation of smooth muscle contraction. However, the mechanisms regulating contraction of depletion of SR $Ca^{2+}$ in mouse gastric smooth muscle strips is not still clear. Methods: To investigate the rotes of $Ca^{2+}$ influx and SR $Ca^{2+}$ release channel on gastric motility, isometric contraction and $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ were examined in mouse gastric smooth muscle strips. Results: High KCl, ryanodine, an activator of $Ca^{2+-}$induced $Ca^{2+}$ release channel, and cyclopiazonic acid (CPA), an inhibitor of SR $Ca^{2+-}$ATPase evoked a sustained increase in muscle contraction and $[Ca^{2+}]_i$. These increases induced by high KCl, ryanodine, and CPA were partially blocked by application of verapamil ($10{\mu}M$), a L-type $Ca^{2+}$ channel inhibitor. Additionally, in $Ca^{2+-}$free solution (1 mM EGTA), ryanodine and CPA had no effect contraction and $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ in fundic muscle strips. Conclusion: These results that extracellular $Ca^{2+}$ influx and depletion of SR trigger $Ca^{2+}$ influx through verapamil-sensitive $Ca^{2+}$ channel, and extracellular and SR $Ca^{2+}$ store may functionally involve in the subcellular $Ca^{2+}$ mobilization in mouse gastric muscle.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• 제64권5호
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• pp.347-355
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• 2008

연구배경: 특발성폐섬유증 환자의 전형적인 증상은 운동호흡곤란과 마른기침으로, 객담이 적은 원인에 대해서 아직까지 잘 알려져 있지 않다. Interferon-${\gamma}$ inducible protein-10 (IP-10)은 여러 호흡기질환과 관련되는데 폐 내로 염증을 유입시키는데 중요한 역할을 한다. 본 연구는 특발성폐섬유증 환자에서 객담이 적은 기전으로 IP-10이 연관성이 있는지에 대해 연구하였다. 방법: 특발성폐섬유증 환자를 대상으로 기관지폐포세척액에서 IP-10의 농도를 ELISA로 측정하였다. IP-10이 기도 점액소 발현에 미치는 영향을 간접적으로 알아보기 위해 NCI-H292 세포(점막표피모양 암종 세포주)에서 IP-10을 전처치한 이후 tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ (TNF-${\alpha}$)로 자극하여 발현정도를 측정하였다. 이때 점액소 발현과 관련되는 기전으로 epidermal growth factor receptor-mitogen activated protein kinase (EGFR-MAPK)의 신호전달 경로를 알아 보았다. 결과: IP-10의 기관지폐포세척액내 농도는 특발성폐섬유증 환자가 건강 대조군에 비해 유의하게 높았다. IP-10의 전처치는 NCI-H292 세포에서 TNF-${\alpha}$ 유도 MUC5AC 점액소 발현을 감소시켰는데 이 때 EGFR-MAPK 신호전달 경로의 차단과 관련되었다. 결론: 특발성폐섬유증 환자의 적은 객담은 IP-10의 발현증가와 일부 관련 가능성이 있으며, 이때 IP-10의 작용은 MUC5AC 점액소 유전자 발현에 필요한 EGFR-MAPK 신호전달 경로의 차단과 관련될 것으로 생각한다.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제24권1호
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• pp.95-104
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• 2007

The mechanism of acacetin-induced apoptosis of human breast cancer MCF-7 cells was investigated. Acacetin caused 50% growth inhibition ($IC_{50}$) of MCF-7 cells at $26.4{\pm}0.7{\mu}M$ over 24 h in the MTT assay. Apoptosis was characterized by DNA fragmentation and an increase of sub-G1 cells and involved activation of caspase-7 and PARP (poly-ADP-ribose polymerase). Maximum caspase 7 activity was observed with $100{\mu}M$ acacetin for 24 h. Caspase 8 and 9 activation cascades mediated the activation of caspase 7. Acacetin caused a reduction of Bcl-2 expression leading to an increase of the Bax:Bcl-2 ratio. It also caused a loss of mitochondrial membrane potential that induced release of cytochrome c and apoptosis inducing factor (AIF) into the cytoplasm, enhancing ROS generation and subsequently resulting in apoptosis. Pretreatment of cells with N-acetylcysteine (NAC) reduced ROS generation and cell growth inhibition, and pretreatment with NAC or a caspase 8 inhibitor (Z-IETD-FMK) inhibited the acacetin-induced loss of mitochondrial membrane potential and release of cytochrome c and AIF. Stress-activated protein kinase/c-Jun $NH_4$-terminal kinase 1/2 (SAPK/JNK1/2) and c-Jun were activated by acacetin but extracellular-regulated kinase 1/2 (Erk1/2) nor p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) were not. Our results show that acacetin-induced apoptosis of MCF-7 cells is mediated by caspase activation cascades, ROS generation, mitochondria-mediated cell death signaling and the SAPK/JNK1/2-c-Jun signaling pathway, activated by acacetin-induced ROS generation.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• 제61권4호
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• pp.417-421
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• 2018

자외선은 가시 광선보다 파장이 짧은 전자기파이며, 오존층을 통과하는 자외선이 피부 노화의 주요 원인이다. 피부 조직을 자외선에 만성적으로 노출 시키면 인간 각질 형성 세포에서 Mitogen-activated Protein Kinases (MAPKs) 신호 전달 경로가 활성화되어 매트릭스 metalloproteinases (MMPs) 생성이 증가한다. 본 연구에서는 제주도의 초본 추출물을 대상으로 자외선 자극을 통해 인간 각질 형성 세포(HaCaTs)의 항 노화 효과에 대해 조사 하였다. 우리는 자외선 유도 된 각질 형성 세포에서 MMP-1 유전자와 단백질 발현 수준을 측정 하였으며 그 결과, Thymus quinquecostatus 추출물(TQE)은 자외선 조사된 HaCaT 세포에서 의해 농도 의존적으로 MMP-1의 발현을 유의하게 감소시키는 것으로 확인되었다. 또한, TQE는 MAPK 신호 전달요소 인 ERK1/2, JNK1/2 및 p38 단백질의 자외선 유도에 따른 인산화를 유의 적으로 감소시켰다. 이러한 결과는 MAPKs 경로가 인간 각질 세포에서 UV 유도 MMP-1 생산에 대한 TQE의 억제 효과에 기여할 수 있음을 시사한다. 우리의 결과는 아마도 인간 각질형성 세포에서 TQE가 자외선 유도된 MMP-1 생산을 억제하는 피부 노화 소재로 활용될 수 있음을 시사한다.

• 한국자원식물학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국자원식물학회 2018년도 춘계학술발표회
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• pp.91-91
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• 2018

Poncirus Fructus (PF) is obtained by drying the trifoliate orange fruit belonging to the Rutaceae family. In our country of medicine, PF has been used as a treatment of indigestion, allergy and inflammation. But Mechanism and medical data for PF is insignificant. Recently, the effect of the study PF of biological activity was reported, such as anti- thrombosis, anti-bacteria, anti-virus, anti- allergic. We investigated that the effect of PF on anti-inflammatory in murine macrophage-like cell line Raw264.7 cells. Our results show that the expression level of Nitric Oxide (NO) and Matrix-metallopeptidase-9 (MMP-9) significantly decreased. Moreover, to determine the expression level of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as Tumor Necrosis Factor ($TNF-{\alpha}$) and Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and the phosphorylation pattern of signaling molecules of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) family, we performed ELISA and westren blot in Raw264.7 cells. In addition, nuclear factor-kappa B ($NF-{\kappa}B$) pathway was confirmed. PF extract inhibited the production of $TNF-{\alpha}$ and IL-6. The extract suppressed the phosphorylation of ERK1/2, JNK, and p38 MAPK, and the nuclear translocation of $NF-{\kappa}B$ p65 in activated cells. Our results suggest that PF can be used as a potential therapeutic agent or functional food to relieve inflammation.

• 한방안이비인후피부과학회지
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• 제25권3호
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• pp.1-12
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• 2012

Objectives : Fagopyrum esculentum(FE) has been used for removal of inflammation of internal organs and treatment of sore and ulcer by heat toxin in Korean herbal medicines. In this study, To investigated the protective effect of FE on allergic response, we determined whether FE inhibits allergic response. Methods : The effect of FE was analyzed by ELISA, RT-PCR and Western blot in RBL-2H3 cells. We investigated cell viability, ${\beta}$-hexosaminidase, as a marker of degranulation, cytokne, and intracellular ROS and MAPK and NF-${\kappa}B$ signaling. Results : We found that FE suppressed ${\beta}$-hexosaminidase release, the production of IL-4 and TNF-${\alpha}$ and intracellular ROS level in RBL-2H3 by the anti-DNP IgE plus DNP-HSA stimulation. FE also significantly inhibited cytokine mRNA expressions, such as IL-$1{\beta}$, IL-2, IL-3, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-13, TNF-${\alpha}$ and GM-CSF in RBL-2H3. In addition, PF suppressed the phospholyation of ERK1/2, JNK1/2, p38 and $I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$ and NF-${\kappa}B$ signal transduction pathway. Conclusions : Our results indicate that FE protects against allergic response and exerts an anti-inflammatory effect through the inhibition of degranulation and production of cytokines and ROS via the suppression MAPK and NF-${\kappa}B$ of signal transduction. Abbrevations : FE, Fagopyrum esculentum; RBL-2H3, rat basophilic leukemia cell line; ROS, reactive oxygen species; MAPK, Mitogen-activated protein kinase; $NF{\kappa}B$, nuclear factor ${\kappa}B$; $TNF{\alpha}$, Tumor necrosis factor alpha; GM-CSF, Granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor; ERK, extracellular-signal-regulated kinase; JNK, c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase; p38, p38 MAP kinase; $I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$, inhibitory-kappa B alpha.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제8권4호
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• pp.227-235
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• 2004

The aim of the present study was to examine the effect of leptin on CA release from the isolated perfused model of the rat adrenal gland, and to establish its mechanism of action. Leptin $(1{\sim}100\;ng/ml)$, when perfused into an adrenal vein of the rat adrenal gland for 60 min, enhanced a dose-dependently the secretory responses of CA evoked by ACh $(5.32{\times}10^{-3}\;M)$, DMPP $(10^{-4}\;M)$ and McN-A-343 $(10^{-4}\;M)$, although it alone has weak effect on CA secretion. However, it did not affect the CA secretion evoked by excess $K^+\;(5.6{\times}10^{-2}\;M)$. Leptin alone produced a weak secretory response of the CA. Moreover, leptin (10 ng/ml) in to an adrenal vein for 60 min also augmented the CA release evoked by BAY-K-8644, an activator of the dihydropyridine L-type $Ca^{2+}$ channels, and cyclopiazonic acid, an inhibitor of cytoplasmic $Ca^{2+}$ ATPase. However, in the presence of U0126 $(1\;{\mu}M)$, an inhibitor of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), leptin no longer enhanced the CA secretion evoked by ACh and DMPP. Furthermore, in the presence of anti-leptin (10 ng/ml), an antagonist of Ob receptor, leptin (10 ng/ml) also no longer potentiated the CA secretory responses evoked by DMPP and Bay-K-8644. Collectively, these experimental results suggest that leptin enhances the CA secretion from the rat adrenal medulla evoked by cholinergic stimulation (both nicotininc and muscarinic receptors), but does not that by membrane depolarization. It seems that this enhanced effect of leptin may be mediated by activation of U0126-sensitive MAPK through the leptin receptors, which is probably relevant to the activation of the dihydropyridine L-type $Ca^{2+}$ channels located on the rat adrenomedullary chromaffin cells.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• 제45권5호
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• pp.575-582
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• 2021

Background: In ginseng, there exists a glycolipoprotein complex with a special form of lipid LPAs called Gintonin. The purpose of this study is to show that Gintonin has a therapeutic effect on rheumatoid arthritis through LPA2 receptors. Methods: Fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) were treated with Gintonin and stimulated with interleukin (IL)-1β. The antioxidant effect of Gintonin was measured using MitoSOX and H₂DCFDA experiments. The anti-arthritic efficacy of Gintonin was examined by analyzing the expression levels of inflammatory mediators, phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways, and translocation of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB)/p65 into the nucleus through western blot. Next, after treatment with LPAR2 antagonist, western blot analysis was performed to measure inflammatory mediator expression levels, and NF-κB signaling pathway. Carrageenan/kaolin-induced arthritis rat model was used. Rats were orally administered with Gintonin (25, 50, and 100 mg/kg) every day for 6 days. The knee joint thickness, squeaking score, and weight distribution ratio (WDR) were measured as the behavioral parameters. After sacrifice, H&E staining was performed for histological analysis. Results: Gintonin significantly inhibited the expression of iNOS, TNF-α, IL-6 and COX-2. Gintonin prevented NF-κB/p65 from moving into the nucleus through the JNK and ERK MAPK phosphorylation in FLS cells. However, pretreatment with an LPA2 antagonist significantly reversed these effects of Gintonin. In the arthritis rat model, Gintonin suppressed all parameters that were measured. Conclusion: This study suggests that LPA2 receptor plays a key role in mediating the anti-arthritic effects of Gintonin by modulating inflammatory mediators, the MAPK and NF-κB signaling pathways.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제23권1호
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• pp.39-44
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• 2015

Tolfenamic acid (TA) is a traditional non-steroid anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) and has been broadly used for the treatment of migraines. Nuclear factor kappa B (NF-${\kappa}B$) is a sequence-specific transcription factor and plays a key role in the development and progression of inflammation and cancer. We performed the current study to investigate the underlying mechanisms by which TA suppresses inflammation focusing on NF-${\kappa}B$ pathway in TNF-${\alpha}$ stimulated human normal and cancer cell lines and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated mouse macrophages. Different types of human cells (HCT116, HT-29 and HEK293) and mouse macrophages (RAW264.7) were pre-treated with different concentrations of TA and then exposed to inflammatory stimuli such as TNF-${\alpha}$ and LPS. Transcriptional activity of NF-${\kappa}B$, $l{\kappa}B-{\alpha}$-degradation, p65 translocation and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activations were measured using luciferase assay and Western blots. Pre-treatment of TA repressed TNF-${\alpha}$- or LPS-stimulated NF-${\kappa}B$ transactivation in a dose-dependent manner. TA treatment reduced degradation of $l{\kappa}B-{\alpha}$ and subsequent translocation of p65 into nucleus. TA significantly down-regulated the phosphorylation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK). However, TA had no effect on NF-${\kappa}B$ signaling and JNK phosphorylation in HT-29 human colorectal cancer cells. TA possesses anti-inflammatory activities through suppression of JNK/NF-${\kappa}B$ pathway in different types of cells.